It is an unfortunate reality that in rare cases, cruise ship passengers miss their boarding time and are left behind. What happens if you miss getting back on your cruise ship?
If you miss your ship during a cruise, you should contact the cruise line’s customer service hotline as soon as possible. They may be able to provide alternate transportation or a later flight to meet the ship at its next port of call. However, you will likely have to pay for this transportation yourself.
If the cruise line is unable to provide alternate transportation, then you will have to make your own arrangements and rejoin the cruise at its next port of call. The cost of this travel will also be paid by you. Cruise lines are not obligated to reimburse passengers for missed ports of call or reimburse them for additional travel expenses incurred due to missing their departure time.
When making plans for alternate transportation, it is important to consider that depending on the situation, it may not be possible to rejoin the cruise before it reaches its final destination. If this occurs then it is highly recommended that you contact your travel insurance provider as soon as possible in order to see what coverage they can offer. In some cases, they may provide reimbursement for some or all of your additional travel expenses.
Conclusion:
Missing the departure time of a cruise ship can be a stressful experience, but by contacting the cruise line’s customer service hotline and arranging alternate transportation if necessary, it is still possible to rejoin the voyage at its next port of call – albeit at your own expense. If it is not possible to catch up with the voyage before it reaches its final destination then it is advisable that you contact your travel insurance provider in order to see what coverage they can offer.